repeatrenegade:

[Roy frowned regretfully, sucking his cheeks in, chewing anxiously even with mostly pursed lips. This isn’t how he wanted it to go— he hadn’t meant to sound upset, he just found it hard to fall back in line with the way things were here. Roy had gotten used to boundaries— to setting boundaries for others, not letting them in. He forgot that this was supposedly his family, that the Outlaws who had been hurt by so many others, didn’t keep themselves from those they loved.] “I know. I’m sorry, Jaybird. I— I’m still getting used to it. The arm. It’s kinda a sore spot. Didn’t mean to take it out on you. [He sighed deeply, pulled in a strong breath, filling his chest before exhaling once again, slowly as he looked over at Jason again.] “I want to stay… I think I just.. had to remind myself it’s different here.”

[His demeanor changed at Roy’s words; Jay visibly relaxed, his face slipping back into a smile.] “Different? For your froggy ass, maybe. Hasn’t changed from what we always were, Harp. You’re my brother, and that won’t change.”
[He meant it, for the most part. Maybe Roy wouldn’t return to being a vigilante. Maybe he’d take a supporting role, who knew. The surprise for Jay was, he didn’t really care. Roy wasn’t dead. That was all that mattered.]

repeatrenegade:

“Yeah, man I realize. Guess the novelty’s worn off.” [He sighs, hates how aggravated he sounds, hates his self loathing just a little bit less.] “Sorry, Jaybird just— look. Can we talk about something that’s not my arm? I’m pleading here…” [And he knew exactly how he sounded, and while his arm was pretty freaking cool, it was still a sore spot from time to time, and Roy had had enough emotional exertion for now to last him the rest of his life.]

[Jason stared at Roy for a good ten seconds before finally looking away, clearing his throat.] “Yeah, sure thing, Bud. No worries.” [An awkward pause follows; Jason realizes, for the first time, that Roy no longer felt comfortable around someone he used to call his brother. Jay’s eyes closed, and his breath caught in his throat for just a half second before he opened them again.] “Look, don’t feel obligated to stay. You’re more than welcome to be here, but I’m not trying to piss you off.” [He downs his drink, the glass clacking loudly against the bar top. Instead of refilling it, he grabbed the bottle, carrying it off a ways from Roy.] “Stay or go. I’m not gonna push it.”

repeatrenegade:

“Yeah. Totally attached. Nerves worked in there and everything.” [Roy quirked a brow, watching Jason continue on like a kid in a candy store. It was… Well. Roy didn’t know what it was, but it wasn’t quite comforting.] “It was Stone.” [He managed to mumble in between his brother’s excitement.] “Uhhh. Yeah. I knew that.” [The red head nodded, knowing Vic had mentioned something about it, probably when he wasn’t really listening, stuck in introspection and self-pity.] “Pretty cool.”

[Jason arched an eyebrow, looking doubtful.] “Come on, Harp. I remember you being a technical wizard before. The fuck is wrong? You realize that you can literally hack into things from your arm. How are you not creaming your pants at that?”

repeatrenegade:

“Born again, then.” [Roy rolled his eyes, turning his arm as Jason moved it, lessening the tension. He had a knife wedged in between the flesh and prosthetic not days ago, and the wound was still sore, limiting consensual movement when he wasn’t high on adrenaline.] “Hey, a little consideration, there are nerves hooked up to the thing.” [The red head flexed his fingers, tried not to ask why Jason even bothered with questions if he knew all the answers.] “Yeah, that’s about right. Insides got a blade or two, small tools. Totally inspector gadget..”

[He resisted the urge to sigh, never liked talking about his arm, even if Vic ensured it was totally sweet.] “I can tie my shoes, use my bow, take a shower with it. It responds to nerve signals just like any other limb. The weight is meant to match my real arm, lift as much and it even tells me the weather.” 

“Amazing. So it’s fully wired in?” [If Jason had been the type to wear glasses, he would have peered over the lenses at Roy just then, eyes narrowed in half interest for his words, barely having enough focus left from the examination of the metal arm.] “Incredible. I didn’t know that the tech was this up to speed. No serial numbers, so I’m guessing it was a custom job. Luthor? Wayne? No, not them. Huh. Is that a fucking Rasberry pi board? Dude. You could literally add software to this. Did you know that?”

repeatrenegade:

[Sighing, though with the resignation of someone who knew the request was coming, Roy tugged both his sweater and shirt off over his heand in one go. He tossed the ofeending fabrics aside, rolling his shoulders once as he stared up at Jason, uncertainty in his eyes. He licked his lips.] “Say something, man. With that judging look of yours, I feel like a virgin on prom night.”

[It was remarkable. Mid bicep, skin met metal in a garish scar, ropy and horrid looking. The prosthesis itself was compact, but Jay could tell it housed a veritable wonder of tech. He snorted at Roy’s analogy, grabbing the fake arm by the wrist and rotating it.] “You haven’t been a virgin since you were 14. I take it you have full use? What’s the material, a titanium alloy? Lightweight. What’s all inside? Any weapons? How about range of movement? Cyberkinetics? I need details, brother.”

repeatrenegade:

[Roy grinned, stroking the short hairs on his chin.] “Oh, this old thing? I thought you might like it. It’s kinda like a metaphor, y’know? Leaves turn red and fall off to signal the changing of seasons. So when you think about it— it’s sorta your fault. Turning a new page, or whatever.” [Roy managed to keep a straight face for all off five seconds before he broke into a bigger grin than before.]

[Rolling his eyes, Jason downed his drink, then stepped close to the redhead. Running one hand through his hair, he poked at the sleeve of Roy’s hoodie.] “Alright. Spill. Show me the goodies here. I gotta make sure my backup can still function.”

repeatrenegade:

“Haha, very funny, dickweed. At least I don’t look like a thirty year old lumberjack. When’s the last time you shaved, anyway? [Roy huffed as he sat back on the couch, tossing one of the pillows in Jason’s direction with a restrained smile of his own.]

[He ducks the pillow, laughing. After a second of two of silence, he shrugs, looking down.] "Month or so? Don’t remember. I look better than the warmed up hell you are. You call that a beard? It looks like you’re molting.”